Petition: Revert the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup to the 2021-Approved Format
The issue
To: The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board
Re: Reversal of the "Super Series / Super 7" format announced on 15 July 2026, in favour of the original format approved in June 2021 and reconfirmed for the 2027 tournament.
Ask: We request this reversal be formally tabled and adopted at the ICC's September 2026 meeting, ahead of the final tournament structure and fixture confirmation.
On 15 July 2026, the ICC scrapped its own 2021 World Cup format for something worse. Here's why it needs to go:
1. Associates get punished twice. Associate nations grind through 3 years of Cricket World Cup League 2 and a Global Qualifier to reach the World Cup — only to potentially face another knockout round (the "Super Series") just to enter the group stage. That's four hurdles to clear before the tournament even starts.
2. Every other sport is growing. Cricket is shrinking. FIFA went from 32 to 48 teams. Cricket's ODI World Cup keeps getting smaller and more exclusive — and this change squeezes it further before a ball is even bowled.
3. Zero stakes, 30 meaningless matches. The 2021 format brought back Points Carried Forward — group-stage results against fellow qualifiers would carry into the Super Six. The new Super 7 scraps this entirely. Every team starts from zero, no matter what happened in the group stage. That's 30 dead-rubber matches with nothing riding on them.
4. This is exactly what made 2003 unforgettable — and we're throwing it away. India had to beat Pakistan to carry points forward. England vs Australia was must-win. South Africa and Pakistan were eliminated on merit. That's what real jeopardy looks like — and it's what the 2021 format was built to bring back.
5. Marquee blockbusters, minimal jeopardy. The new schedule allows India vs Pakistan and India vs Australia to be played 2–3 times. The ICC hasn't confirmed this is about broadcast revenue — but a format with less competitive stake and more repeat blockbuster fixtures inevitably raises that question. The ICC should answer it, not ignore it.
What we want
Reverse the format at the September 2026 meeting.
Restore the 2021 structure — Super Six, Points Carried Forward.
Consult properly with all member boards before any future change like this.
If nothing changes
We will run a sustained, year-long campaign asking fans to disengage from ICC World Cup broadcasts and sponsors — including Star Sports — until this is reviewed. We'd rather the ICC acted first.
20
The issue
To: The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board
Re: Reversal of the "Super Series / Super 7" format announced on 15 July 2026, in favour of the original format approved in June 2021 and reconfirmed for the 2027 tournament.
Ask: We request this reversal be formally tabled and adopted at the ICC's September 2026 meeting, ahead of the final tournament structure and fixture confirmation.
On 15 July 2026, the ICC scrapped its own 2021 World Cup format for something worse. Here's why it needs to go:
1. Associates get punished twice. Associate nations grind through 3 years of Cricket World Cup League 2 and a Global Qualifier to reach the World Cup — only to potentially face another knockout round (the "Super Series") just to enter the group stage. That's four hurdles to clear before the tournament even starts.
2. Every other sport is growing. Cricket is shrinking. FIFA went from 32 to 48 teams. Cricket's ODI World Cup keeps getting smaller and more exclusive — and this change squeezes it further before a ball is even bowled.
3. Zero stakes, 30 meaningless matches. The 2021 format brought back Points Carried Forward — group-stage results against fellow qualifiers would carry into the Super Six. The new Super 7 scraps this entirely. Every team starts from zero, no matter what happened in the group stage. That's 30 dead-rubber matches with nothing riding on them.
4. This is exactly what made 2003 unforgettable — and we're throwing it away. India had to beat Pakistan to carry points forward. England vs Australia was must-win. South Africa and Pakistan were eliminated on merit. That's what real jeopardy looks like — and it's what the 2021 format was built to bring back.
5. Marquee blockbusters, minimal jeopardy. The new schedule allows India vs Pakistan and India vs Australia to be played 2–3 times. The ICC hasn't confirmed this is about broadcast revenue — but a format with less competitive stake and more repeat blockbuster fixtures inevitably raises that question. The ICC should answer it, not ignore it.
What we want
Reverse the format at the September 2026 meeting.
Restore the 2021 structure — Super Six, Points Carried Forward.
Consult properly with all member boards before any future change like this.
If nothing changes
We will run a sustained, year-long campaign asking fans to disengage from ICC World Cup broadcasts and sponsors — including Star Sports — until this is reviewed. We'd rather the ICC acted first.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 15 July 2026